12 | 13 S tat e o f t h e Sc h o o l | aca d em ic a f fa irs
fa r RIGHT We continue our outreach through our cultural exchange programs. This winter term, Choate hosted a delegation from Fudan University High School in Shanghai. Last March, six Choate students and language teacher Julia Brown participated in our first exchange to Fudan. The exchange was coordinated by Anne Armour, Director of Choate’s Study Abroad Programs, and Carol Chen-Lin, Head of Choate's Study Abroad Program in China.
F r o m Ka t hleen Ly o ns W allace , A ss o cia t e H ea d mas t e r an d Dean o f A ca d emic A ffai r s
When Dr. Curtis arrived on campus last summer, we were in the middle of planning to restore and expand St. John Hall, the last academic building to be renovated; however, we soon recognized that renovations were not going to meet future programmatic needs. We are now exploring plans for a new building to accommodate the changing needs of mathematics, computer science, and robotics. Last year, Choate Rosemary Hall expanded its offerings in Arabic as part of our interdisciplinary Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies Program, now in its third year. This summer we are offering a month-long pilot Study Abroad Program in Jordan. Led by Arabic and French teacher Georges Chahwan, students will live with Jordanian host families and take courses conducted in Arabic at AmidEast, a leading American non-profit organization. In addition, during the 2012-13 year we are adding third-year intensive Arabic to the academic offerings on campus. The latest addition to Choate’s suite of academic signature programs is the Environmental Immersion Program at the Kohler Environmental Center. Those selected for the program will be asked to sign a “green social contract” requiring them to actively participate in community life, and to be accountable to each other, the biotic community, and to future generations. We look forward to all this program will contribute to the Choate community and our working knowledge of sustainable living, interdisciplinary education, and environmental issues.
In addition, English and history teacher and Athletic Director Ned Gallagher visited International College in Beirut, Lebanon on a professional development exchange in late February and early March. In return, Choate will host two science teachers from the college at Choate in April. Last April, we hosted Tarek Mousally, the college’s Athletic Director, and are looking forward to all we will learn as a result of both parts of this exchange. Last spring we asked our faculty for ideas about how they might use an Apple iPad to enhance teaching and learning, and selected 13 faculty members from across the School to participate in a pilot program this year. This past fall, as excitement for the technology grew, the pilot group was doubled to ensure we were using iPads in as many venues as possible, from the classroom to the administrative office to the athletic arena to the dorm. What we have learned thus far has compelled us to make iPads available to all of our faculty begining in May. Finally, we share news from our College Counseling Office. Of the 204 students who applied under an early admission plan, 58 percent were admitted to their colleges of choice. This is the fourth year that the College Counseling Office is coordinating a college bus tour for interested fifth formers during March break and for the second time the tour is of colleges in the Philadelphia area. The implementation of a comprehensive monthly College Seminar curriculum for all fifth and sixth formers has been met with resounding support and success.